October 22, 2024
Meet Bo-Young Sturycz, a full-time stay-at-home mom, whose journey into medical interpretation is as inspiring as it is insightful. Born and raised in Korea, Sturycz moved to the United States after meeting her husband. Despite not having time for a full-time job, she utilized her English Literature background to assist with translations and teach English to Korean students in her spare time. This laid a solid foundation for her next career move: professional medical interpretation.
Choosing the Academy of Interpretation.
Bo-Young needed a flexible yet rigorous program that would fit into her busy schedule and provide her with the skills to excel in medical interpretation. Bo-Young needed training that allowed her the leisure to focus during her free time while caring for her children. "I could take the course once the kids went to bed," she explains. This flexibility helped her balance her family responsibilities with her educational goals. Her journey with AOI was about acquiring knowledge and finding fulfillment in bridging cultural and linguistic gaps within medical settings. Her decision to enroll in the Academy of Interpretation’s Professional Medical Interpreter (PMI) course stemmed from her desire to blend her passion for languages with a meaningful career in healthcare communication.
Sturycz was pleasantly surprised by how much the course deepened her understanding of interpretation. "I thought it would just be about speaking the language, but there were many tricks and skills I didn't know I needed, especially for medical interpretation," she shares. The real-life scenario reenactments in the course were particularly valuable. They helped her visualize potential challenges and feel more prepared for actual fieldwork.
Career Impacts
Since completing the course three months ago, Bo-Young has actively pursued interpretation assignments and found great joy in her new role. She describes a poignant moment where her interpretation facilitated a critical conversation between a patient’s family and healthcare staff, leading to a resolution and emotional reconciliation. "It was a very powerful moment, and I felt like I am doing something good here," she reflects. Any initial apprehensions that Sturycz may have had quickly gave way to a deep sense of fulfillment instead. “I immensely enjoy the job”, she says, “I say, I'm not a people person. I don't like meeting people, but I realize that I actually do enjoy meeting people. I do enjoy the sense of helping them.”
Advice to Future Interpreters
Her advice to prospective interpreters? Immerse yourself in the training and stay open to continuous learning and growth. “You have many sets of skills that you need to acquire that you didn't know were necessary for this job,” she says.
Bo-Young wholeheartedly recommends the AOI training to others with strong language skills. She believes that the course equips students with the essential skills needed to succeed in the field. Bo-Young enthusiastically endorses the program. She says, “I talk to my friends and when I know that they have good language skills, I try to recruit them.”
So What’s in Store for Bo-Young?
Bo-Young’s journey from a stay-at-home mom to freelancing as a professional interpreter is a testament to the transformative power of dedicated training and the rewarding nature of the interpretation field. Her experience with our courses highlights the importance of flexibility, thorough preparation, and real-world application in achieving success. As she continues to make a difference in the lives of those she helps, her story inspires others aspiring to enter this vital profession.
For anyone contemplating a career in interpretation, Sturycz’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right training and mindset, you can transform your language skills into a valuable tool for positive change.